VoIP is the easiest and most advanced way to enhance internal and external business communications. And with Aircall as your dedicated VoIP provider, you can do so much more with your business phone system.
What Is VoIP?
The term VoIP is an acronym for Voice over Internet Protocol. In a nutshell, it’s a telecommunications technology that allows the transmission of voice signals across an IP-based network such as LAN, WAN, and even Wi-Fi. VoIP takes analog voice signals from a regular handset, converts them into digital bits, and transmits the digitized information as packets over a network.
To make and receive calls via VoIP, you must have a VoIP-enabled phone system or a softphone app installed on your computer or smartphone. These have built-in VoIP adaptors that convert analog voice waves into digital signals. The digital voice packets are then sent through the internet router to the VoIP phone provider, where servers route calls over the correct network to reach the intended recipients. This process may seem complicated, but let’s keep things simple.
Using a VoIP Provider Compared to Conventional Phone Systems
VoIP’s predecessor is the traditional PBX (Private Branch Exchange) phone system. In all fairness, VoIP technology is a massive leap from PBX. Unlike older phone systems, VoIP transmits over ethernet connections and doesn’t rely on a physical switch to route calls or switch between callers. PBX phones transmit via copper lines connected to a Public Switched Telephone Network (PTSN). The copper wiring carries a modulated analog voice signal through electrical pulses.
A modern PBX version—IP-PBX—is the closest traditional phones can get to VoIP. And although IP-PBX uses VoIP technology to facilitate on-prem calls, it still lacks most of the capabilities of full-scale VoIP phone systems. What do you get with VoIP telephony that other phone systems can’t match?
Lower Call Rates and More Savings
One of the main reasons most businesses switch to VoIP phones is to cut communications costs. No matter how you look at it, running a VoIP system is much cheaper than using a landline phone system.
For one, the call rates are much lower. Most VoIP service providers bundle unlimited local calls and heavily discounted international minutes in VoIP subscriptions. For instance, while a PBX line might cost upwards of $50, a VoIP subscription can start as low as $30 per month. And that’s not all. Remember that you’ll have to pay standard call rates to your telecom provider when using a landline PBX phone.
Second, VoIP system installations and maintenance cost way less than wired alternatives. Business VoIP providers usually sell VoIP-enabled handsets at a discounted price. They also take care of the phone’s technical backend.
Finally, VoIP is so versatile that it can streamline your communications infrastructure, improving work and business efficiency. This realizes some indirect and valuable cost savings too. For instance, VoIP-powered teleconferencing allows remote colleagues to attend virtual meetings without incurring travel expenses.
Completely Portable
VoIP technology allows you to make and receive calls from multiple devices. With VoIP, your business lines are no longer tied to office desk phones. You don’t need desk phones at all. Through softphone apps, your smartphone, laptop, or tablet can just as easily place and answer VoIP calls. One good thing about VoIP is that international borders do not hinder it. VoIP works from any part of the world, as long as there’s a stable internet connection. You can take your office on the go anytime without missing a beat.
VoIP’s portability does not end there. Thanks to its advanced call forwarding and routing capabilities, incoming calls can still reach their recipients no matter where or the devices they’re using.
Better Scalability and Flexibility
Scalability is another strong point for VoIP systems. A growing business needs a communications infrastructure flexible enough to meet changing demands. VoIP phone system providers offer easy scaling options, allowing you to increase or decrease the number of users and phone features at any time. Implementing a cloud for telecom strategy can further enhance the adaptability of your communication infrastructure, facilitating seamless integration with various digital tools and platforms.
Usually, this means switching between VoIP subscription packages, but you can also customize your own voice solution to match your business’s unique phone needs.
On the other hand, scaling a traditional phone system would mean laying more copper wiring, upgrading the switching hardware, and getting all new handsets. Doing all this can be expensive, tedious, and time-consuming. More so if adding new lines or users ends in overhauling the entire system.
More Call Features
VoIP is not just your regular phone system. You get so much more with VoIP than conventional voice calls. VoIP’s versatility and multi-functional capabilities allow users to multitask communications using various tools simultaneously.
Suppose you’re returning a call. As you wait, you could read through a transcribed voicemail from your inbox to find out the reason for calling. At the same time, you could forward an important voicemail to any of your colleagues with just the click of a button or screen tap.
VoIP also comes with many automation features that you won’t find on other phone systems, such as advanced call transfer and forwarding, intelligent call answering, auto assistance, call monitoring and logging, hot desking, conference bridge, and more.
VoIP gives you the convenience and scope that make for a robust unified communications system. The right VoIP platform will practically cover all your communications needs.
Superior Voice Quality
VoIP is far superior to traditional phone technologies regarding connection speed and reception quality. VoIP only interferes with voice or video information by turning it from analog to digital packets. Some end-points may compress the data to save on bandwidth, but even that is done using lossless algorithms to preserve audiovisual quality. In most cases, landline systems intentionally clip voice waveforms to minimize the transmission data load, resulting in muffled voices and distorted dial tones.
Additionally, since VoIP transmits across IP networks, it suffers minimal external noise interference. VoIP transmissions are also latency-free, meaning the calls never drop or get jittery. Ultimately, you get a crisp voice transfer and sharp HD images during videoconferencing.
What Is a VoIP Service Provider, and What Is Their Role?
A VoIP provider or a cloud-hosted communications platform is a company that sells products and services that enable businesses to make and receive calls over the internet. Sophisticated algorithms and servers route incoming calls from the conventional cellular or landline networks to the internet to reach business phone lines when using VoIP. The same thing happens the other way around when making calls on a VoIP phone. The call has to leave the internal ethernet network to reach phones using other telecom networks. The VoIP host is responsible for providing the infrastructure for these processes.
Since VoIP is a lot more than just a voice call technology, VoIP providers also offer more robust communication solutions such as instant messaging, SIP support, emailing, and call management. Modern VoIP providers basically sell a complete business toolbox catering to all enterprise communications demands. On top of that, VoIP hosts also help organizations integrate existing digital resources such as CRMs, cloud, helpdesk, and e-commerce platforms with VoIP services.
VoIP support has evolved to cover all aspects of business communications. So an all-rounded VoIP provider essentially becomes a technical business partner.
Why Is Aircall the Best VoIP Provider?
Aircall’s VoIP platform provides a powerful yet easy-to-use cloud business phone system that seamlessly integrates with popular CRM and helpdesk systems. Our solutions are purposely designed to bolster collaboration and introduce exciting new ways to drive business productivity. And thanks to flexible plans and tiered service packages, Aircall VoIP is ideal for call centers, large firms, and SMBs.
Besides a world-class cloud VoIP platform, here is a bunch of more perks you get with Aircall:
- Competitive pricing, starting at $30/user/month
- Customizable VoIP packages (including custom API development)
- Native mobile and desktop phone apps
- Excellent call quality
- Friendly onboarding support during initial setup
- Third-party integration with over 80 business solutions
- Dedicated round-the-clock customer support
VoIP Features Aircall Provides
Aircall provides businesses with all the basic VoIP capabilities, plus so much more. We go above and beyond to deliver exceptional business phone services to broaden the scope of the communication. We believe you should do more with VoIP than just make calls. Here is the list of features making Aircall the best VoIP service provider for international calling and internal communications:
Phone Features
What do you get on the Aircall VoIP phone system?
- Live call conferencing
- Area-based toll-free numbers and more than 100 international phone numbers
- Custom voicemail
- Business hours settings
- Advanced call routing
- Automated caller assistance via Interactive Voice Response (IVR)
- Unlimited user extensions
- Virtual call center with consolidated contacts
- Call blocking and caller blacklisting
Collaboration and Productivity Features
Aircall enhances workplace collaboration and overall business productivity through the following features:
- Warm transfers and call assignments
- Shared contacts and call inboxes
- Real-time desktop notifications and alerts
- Ring-to-speaker
- Follow-me feature with forward-to-mobile option
- Click to dial and PowerDialer
- Instant text messaging
- After-call work
Call Center Features
Aircall is equipped with advanced call management features designed to streamline call center operations, making it easier to control high call volumes. These features include:
- Call queuing
- Unlimited concurrent calls
- Parallel calling
- Call recording and playback
- Skill-based, group-based, and time-based call routing
- Queue callback
Call Analytics and Administration Features
Aircall analytics lets you measure various call performance indicator metrics such as call volume, wait time, hold time, and missed call rate from a single pane of glass. The platform also gives you administrative control over call management through these features:
- Active call monitoring
- Call whispering
- Live feed and real-time call log reporting
- Dedicated account management
Integration Features
Aircall seamlessly integrates with dozens of digital business solutions, including CRMs, e-commerce software, ERPs, helpdesk tools, data systems, and quality assurance systems. On top of that, it’s intuitively easy to set up and use – all thanks to the following capabilities:
- One-click setup
- Virtually unlimited webhooks and APIs for third-party integrations
- Insight cards to pull data from external apps
- Data imports and synchronization from supported apps and services
FAQs
Here is a list of frequently asked questions about VoIP phone systems and VoIP hosted service providers:
Do I need a provider for VoIP?
Yes. You need a VoIP SIP provider to make and receive external calls. Without a SIP VoIP service provider, you can only make and receive internal calls over IP-PBX within the organization’s network. Plus, you need a VoIP host to unlock advanced VoIP capabilities.
Does VoIP require a service provider?
VoIP requires a service provider to route incoming and outgoing calls outside the internal business phone network. Also, cloud VoIP providers offer unlimited access to advanced business communication features.
What is a VoIP service provider?
A VoIP service provider is any B2B business that offers a cloud-hosted communications platform for enabling VoIP services. The service provider forms the link between internal and outbound business communications via the internet.
What makes a VoIP provider good?
Resourcefulness and commitment to customer satisfaction are the two main virtues that make a good VoIP provider. The right VoIP host must be able to provide all the necessary tools, products, and services needed to power a business phone system. The service provider must also guarantee 24/7 system uptime and high-quality VoIP services that truly bring value to an enterprise.
How to choose a VoIP provider?
Choosing a VoIP provider is a weighty business decision. So try not to rush into anything. Vet several hosted VoIP providers based on these criteria:
- Calling plans and pricing
- Service flexibility and customization
- Mobile compatibility
- 24/7 support
- Voice and video output quality
- Third-party integration with existing business tools
- Call management features
- Security and dependability
- Experience and track record
- Potential for unified communications
In short, you want a VoIP provider that meets all your business communication needs and guarantees secure, robust, and dependable services. Aircall easily fits this bill and proudly checks all the attributes of a credible, trustworthy, and reliable VoIP provider.
